Charleston is famous for it's springtime display of azaleas. These ones in the famous gardens are not native to the area, but there is a native azalea which is even more interesting. Lasting less time than the garden azaleas, it can be glimpsed blooming in the woods if one keeps one's eye out for it.
The individual blossoms are exquisite! And unlike the garden azaleas, it also has a strong and wonderful fragrance
As the blossoms begin to fade they are even more unusual with the individual trumpet parts hanging by a thread.
The other fleeting flower is not native, but is truly spectacular as it drapes all over the trees along the rural roads. Almost like kudzu, only beautiful! If you love lavender like I do, it's breath-taking. Click this larger to see the effect better
This was a particularly dark blossom in my neighbor's yard.
It would be wonderful if we could know exactly what the date of the best showing of wild azaleas and wisteria would be each year, but it can vary by as much as a month. Around the first of April is usually a good time for seeing both the wild and the tame bloomings at their best. Come on down!
Hey Bruce. Nice blog !
ReplyDeleteSaw your link in another birding blog and thought I'd give yours a look.
Cheers
Nick
Lovely photographs Bruce. That wild azalea is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!! Love the native azalea and the wild wisteria.
ReplyDeleteOh, Bruce, those photos are just incredible. I can only imagine the fragrance. WOW You did a wonderful job of photographing them, BEAUTIFUL!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, Bruce. I love seeing all the nice details and colors. We still have a couple of weeks to go here.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful flowers! I really like that wild azalea...it looks so "spidery" compared to the garden varieties....and such a lovely pink color with the dark and light mix! I've never seen wild wisteria either...very pretty color! This must be a great time to be in Charleston!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! It's wonderful to get a sneak preview..we're a bit behind you.
ReplyDeleteWOW flowers arent my thing,but these are beautiful, stunning photos.
ReplyDeleteThe wild azalia is exquisite...tku for sharing that with us.
ReplyDeleteI have a beautiful wisteria. When we move to the farmhouse the whips were lying across the gravel drive. My husband put up several arches for me and it now covers them.
Beautiful post, loved it.
That wild azeala is amazing! It looks as exotic as an orchid! What does the foliage look like? It looks like each flower cluster blossoms on the end of a bare twig!
ReplyDeleteOne word.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
Ah, Wisteria. It's beautiful. There's a great folksinger named Richard Shindell who has a song called "Wisteria," which is also very beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThese photos are a balm to my winter-weary Wisconsin eyes! We are supposed to get snow on Thursday! I really like the way you have presented these.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a nice set of comments! Thanks so much everyone. I was computerless yesterday due to a dead monitor or I would have responded earlier. I've swiped my husband's monitor till the new one comes. Now I can go look at all the blogs I missed yesterday. Thanks again everyone!
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